September 25, 2023
- A recent prevalence report of children aged 7 to 9 years in the Centro region of Portugal shows a rapid rise in autism spectrum disorder (ASD) rates in a relatively short period. A comparison between the new rate (0.5%) and the rate from a national study in 1999-2000 (0.125%) demonstrates that the current prevalence estimates are approximately four times higher than 20 years ago. The authors suggest this rise may be due to the increased awareness of ASD among teachers and the broader research on autism, which has led to a better understanding of the disorder. However, the study also indicates that the ASD prevalence increase could be attributed to causal factors such as environmental influences.
- A new longitudinal study has examined the divorce rates among parents of children with autism over nearly three decades. The study’s findings shed light on critical factors influencing marital outcomes within these families. The research included 108 families who had children with autism. The authors discovered that the risk of parents divorcing by the time their child with autism reached 30 years old was approximately 36%. The study identified two specific periods that had the highest divorce risk. Nearly 40% of divorces occurred during the first 5 years after the child’s birth, while approximately 25% happened between ages 10 to 15 years. Various factors were associated with divorce risk, including less educated parents, younger mothers, and mothers of color with lower education. Additionally, the presence of siblings with autism appeared to influence divorce risk. None of the parents with children with two or more siblings with autism divorced between 0–10 years, whereas 46% of divorces in families with no siblings with autism occurred during the same period. In contrast, 33% of families with two or more siblings with autism divorced after age 10.
- A new magazine report from Arizona State University (ASU) showcases the work of Dr. James Adams, who is helping treat people with autism and children with Pitt-Hopkins syndrome, a rare genetic disorder characterized by physical, intellectual, and developmental delays. In a double-blind clinical trial, Dr. Adams and his team demonstrated that microbiota transplant therapy reduces gastrointestinal symptoms and other symptoms in people with autism, as well as in children with Pitt-Hopkins. This innovative therapy uses antibiotics to eliminate harmful bacteria from the intestines and then replaces it with healthy bacteria. The results have been so promising that the team acquired the FDA’s orphan drug designation and rare pediatric disease designation for Pitt-Hopkins syndrome, and following a Phase 3 study, they hope to receive FDA drug approval for their treatment.
- The Department of Education is investing almost $199 million in model demonstration projects across 20 states to address the needs of young people with disabilities as they transition to adulthood. The Rehabilitation Services Administration’s Pathways to Partnerships initiative will promote collaboration between state vocational rehabilitation agencies, educational agencies and centers for independent living. The projects aim to prepare young people with disabilities for independent living, competitive integrated employment and community integration. Grant recipients will have five years to pilot, refine, and implement their ideas while collecting and analyzing data on their results.
